staffWriterThe Best Schools That Offer MBAs in Edmonton
If you are thinking of continuing your education through an MBA, look no further. We’ve made it easier for you by picking out the top schools offering the best MBA programs in Edmonton!
We reviewed each school’s offerings and broke down their programmes to help you choose a school more easily. We answered some common questions as well to help you with any concerns you may have, so check those out at the end of the article.
The Best Schools Offering MBA Programs in Edmonton
We’ve picked and reviewed the following institutions based on the following criteria:
The Cost of MBA programs in Edmonton
Many consider pursuing an MBA as an investment. With that said, the cost of MBA programs can greatly influence your decision on which school or program to apply for, and the perceived benefits guaranteed by the institution, like higher salary post-graduation.
Total program fees vary across the schools we reviewed, and are further differentiated by tuition for domestic and international students, the additional fees, and living expenses.
The following are estimates of the total program fees, some including a breakdown detailing all additional fees and expenses for the schools we’ve reviewed. Note that you might need to contact the following schools for a complete breakdown of the total program fees.
| Institution | Total program fees estimate |
| Athabasca University | $48,180 (Applied project route) |
| $52,799 (course-based route) | |
| University of Alberta | $28,438 (Domestic students) |
| $57,909 (International students) | |
| Northern Alberta Institute of Technology | $27,000 (tuition only, excludes other program fees) |
At Athabasca University, both routes include 10 core courses, each costing $3,167. For the total program fees, the course-based route substitutes two additional online elective courses in lieu of the applied project for the applied project route.
University of Alberta’s program fees vary between domestic and international students, and is based on the regular 60-credit based program. This is only reflective of their full-time MBA program.
Meanwhile, Northern Alberta Institute of Technology’s MBA program from Cape Breton University only includes the tuition for the 13 courses and 2 elective courses, with each course worth $1,800.
These estimates serve as a general idea on the cost of taking up an MBA in the schools we’ve reviewed.
1. Alberta School of Business (University of Alberta)
| PROGRAMS | Full time MBA, part-time MBA, FastTrack MBA, Executive MBA, Energy MBA, combined MBA |
| TRACKS | Energy Finance, Operations & Business Analytics, Strategy & Consulting, Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Public Sector & Healthcare |
| ADDRESS | University of Alberta 3-23 Business Building Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2R6 |
| CONTACT NUMBER | 780-492-7676 (Phone) 780-492-3325 (Fax) |
| WEBSITE | https://www.ualberta.ca/business/index.html |
| OPERATING HOURS | Sun-Sat: 7AM-11PM |
The Alberta School of Business is part of the College of Social Sciences + Humanities of University of Alberta. The university was listed in the QS World University Rankings for 2021 as the top 5th in Canada and top 119th worldwide.
With this reputation, it’s easy to see why the Alberta School of Business is on our list.
The Alberta School of Business is a top pick because of its graduates’ high placement rate, with 94% being employed just within 3 months of graduation, according to their 2019-2020 employment report for the full time MBA program.
They also declare a $73,000 mean total salary for graduates of the full time program, which we think sounds promising.
We can say that the school is well-equipped in terms of faculty and research facilities. Four of their faculty are 3M Teaching Fellowship winners, and they have 12 research facilities for business on campus.
In terms of the programs offered, we think you’ll appreciate the multiple tracks and specializations you can choose from. The choices provide flexibility for any type of student who either wishes to focus on one career track, take up a combined MBA, or a general MBA.
The Full Time MBA is their basic program of 60 credits or 20 courses. Completed in 20 months, this is ideal for those who want to finish their studies in the shortest amount of time possible to be ready for real-world opportunities after graduation.
The full time MBA can be coupled with another degree such as an MD or a PharmD as a combined degree. We find this particularly useful for anyone who’d like to improve their management skills in that specific field.
The program fees come up to around $33,000 for domestic students, and around $60,000 for international students. Both are advised to budget $2,000 for learning materials to be used throughout the program, such as textbooks.
If you’re a business graduate, you’ll appreciate their FastTrack MBA program. They have designed this program specifically for business graduates, and it is finished either over a 10- or 22-month period for full-time or part-time, respectively.
This program has been crafted with the presupposition that as a business graduate, you are already equipped with the concepts and ideas to some degree. And as such, FastTrack MBA students are thus expected to finish in a shorter amount of time, with a minimum requirement of 12 courses.
Total program fees are calculated based on $1,438.08 per 3-credit course, on top of around $1,500 for non-instructional fees for full-time students, and around $1,800 for part-time. International students should expect higher tuition per course.
If you’re currently employed or are engaged with other matters, you’ll find the Part Time program useful. It has the same 20 course offerings as the Full Time program, only differing in the more flexible modes of delivery.
While this part-time option is designed for students to be able to study at a more convenient time for them, it is just as challenging and rigorous as the other programs. We find it appropriate that part-time students are given up to six years to finish their studies.
Mean base salary for graduates of their part-time program is projected at $99,000.
The same fees per 3-credit course still apply, by the way. The total estimate for program fees comes up to about $33,500.
They also have the EMBA, or the Executive MBA program designed for senior-level managers. It is a 20-month program that aims to further enhance management skills.
The program fees amount to around $73,700, with an additional $135 application fee. What we like about this program is that the fees include tuition, books, study materials, meals, and parking while attending classes, and the travel and accommodation costs for the International Study Tour.
It’s also great to know that a Surface laptop is also provided to aid the student for the entire length of the program. We should also note that this program is only available through face-to-face delivery, and as such, students are expected to engage full-time and be out of the office for the duration of the program.
Lastly, if you’d like to excel in the energy and natural resource sectors, Alberta has a tailor-made program called the Energy MBA. Designed to be completed in 32 months, it is a mixture of online classes and three week-long face-to-face classes.
What we like about the program is that the class is limited to a few students at a time to ensure a collaborative environment. The program specializes in Natural Resources, Energy, and Environment.
Fees are slightly lower than the other programs, with instructional fees coming at around $1,344.16 per 3-credit course, and around $750 per year for non-instructional fees. This all comes to around $30,000 in total.
With all this in mind, Alberta School of Business offers even more personalization with their career tracks. These tracks are Energy Finance, Operations & Business Analytics, Strategy & Consulting, Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Public Sector & Healthcare.
Pros
- High level of personalization in terms of choices between programs and career tracks
- High employment statistics for full-time program
- Small professor-to-student ratio
- Award-winning faculty
- Well-equipped research facilities
Cons
- Fall 2022 students may face a huge tuition increase from $1,438.08 per 3-credit course to $2,462.50
- MBA for executives (EMBA) only available through in-person classes
Student Testimonials
A lot of flexibility and understanding
“The one great thing about the Executive MBA program is that there’s a lot of flexibility and I think there’s a lot of understanding. Not as a rigid setting, I think, as I expected.”––Janis Simpkins, ‘18 EMBA
Acquired new skills, honed old ones
“There are so many skills and competencies to name, but one that comes readily to mind is time management. Coupling the stretch of the MBA/Mag program with my personal commitments taught me how to prioritize activities and allocate my time. Other skills that directly impact my professional life include the ability to spot entrepreneurial opportunities across different industries, develop innovative strategies, and deliver presentations to industry leaders. I have not just acquired new skills but also honed old skills.”––Ademola Obasanmi, MBA/MAg
2. Athabasca University Faculty of Business
| PROGRAMS | Standard Entry, Accelerated Entry, Professional Designation Holders, Progressive Management Experience |
| TRACKS | Online MBA for executives, Online MBA for Health Leaders, Online MBA for Accountants, Online MBA in Hockey Management, Online MBA for Supply Chain Managers) |
| ADDRESS | Edmonton: Peace Hills Trust Tower, 12th Floor, 10011 109 Street, Edmonton AB T5J 3S8 Edmonton North: 201 13220 St. Albert Trail, Edmonton, AB T5L 4W1 |
| CONTACT NUMBER | Edmonton: 1-800-788-9041 (Canada/U.S.) 780-497-3411 (Fax) Edmonton North: 1-800-561-4650 1-800-561-4660 (Fax) |
| WEBSITE | https://business.athabascau.ca/index.php |
| OPERATING HOURS | Mon-Fri: 8AM-4:30PM |
Athabasca University is perhaps the best choice for online MBAs. While it is based in Athabasca, Alberta, it has two offices in Edmonton, and is actually the pioneer of online and distance learning – so its reach is global.
What’s great about Athabasca University’s online MBA programs is that the university offers a workaround for those who intend to further their studies while not having to temporarily halt other matters such as work. The program is fully online, and is thus accessible wherever the students may be.
Anyway, the university offers executives different ways of entry into the program.
There’s the Standard entry, which requires an undergraduate degree and three years of managerial experience.
The total program cost for the Standard entry comes up to around $48,180 for the applied-project route, and $52,799 for the course-based route.
As the most basic, it may be the entry most suitable for most executives. It is typically completed around 30-36 months.
But if you hold an undergraduate business degree that you have completed in the past ten years, you might prefer the Accelerated entry. To be eligible, you must also have three years of managerial experience and a GPA of 3.0 for the last 60 credits you have taken.
This is the best choice for anyone with a business degree since it guarantees that the program may be completed in as little as 19 months, ensuring that you earn the benefits of an MBA quicker. The program is composed of 6 core course credits and 24 elective credits.
What’s also good about the Accelerated entry is that you are given the ability to personalize your own program through a combination of online, in-residence, and international electives. You can also even opt for a major research project.
Athabasca also recognizes those with professional designations, and thus offers a specific entry route for them. On top of the accepted designation, a minimum of 5 years of managerial experience is required.
We find that the list of accepted professional designations can still include even more designations. But what’s great is that if you believe your professional designation may be deemed acceptable, they give you the chance to contact them to have it reviewed.
Among those are ACCA, ACMA, AScT, CA, CET, CFA, CGA, CGAP, CGMA, CHE, CMA, CPA, CHRL, CPHR, EcD, C Mgr, FCIP, FCMA, FCSI, ISP, PEng, PTech, (Eng), PQS, RET, PBA, and SCMP.
The Professional Management Experience entry for those with more than eight years of managerial experience requires a completion of the university’s Graduate Diploma in Management (GDM).
Then, upon completion of the phase one requirements and a comprehensive exam, students can then apply to transfer into the MBA program itself.
We find this particularly useful for those with no undergraduate degrees, but have extensive experience in management. Through this entry, they are awarded a graduate diploma alongside the MBA if they consider transferring into the MBA program.
Athabasca offers some of the most comprehensive MBA programs for executives, on top of their general MBA for executives. If you’re having qualms about a fully online delivery, we think you’ll appreciate what they offer, as they are the only online program to be included in the worldwide top-75 list rated by the Financial Times of London.
Their various partnerships ensure that the specific tracks and specializations for their online MBAs are well-integrated to the MBA program itself.
It is also worth noting that Athabasca recognizes past credits from other degrees as transfer credits, which could then be used to expedite the completion of the MBA, with corresponding tuition reductions.
The MBA for accountants is made for those with the designations CMA, CGA, CA, and CPA. And on top of that, designation holders with undergraduate business degrees may be eligible for the accelerated entry, further shortening the time needed to complete the program.
The standard entry for the MBA for accountants comes up to $38,980 for the applied project route, and $43,599 for the course based route. Accelerated entry costs considerably less from the tuition deductions, with the applied project route coming up at $26,312 and the course based route at $30,931.
The online MBA for Health Leaders is done in collaboration with the Canadian College of Health Leaders. We think this is a perfect choice for health leaders looking to hone their skills by pursuing a CHE designation, which is the only designation given to health leaders.
Another collaboration that we believe to be very innovative is the university’s partnership with Business of Hockey Institute, creating their online MBA in Hockey Management. This program recognizes that hockey, more than a game, is also business, and as such there must also be experts that are equipped with the proper management skills.
We think this is the perfect track to take up for anyone into hockey, and those who want to take up the challenge of elevating its business and management side. Just like the other programs, it is built around the fundamental courses, but is focused on the challenges and opportunities in hockey as an industry.
The program fees cost the same as any standard entry program at $52,799.
Lastly, Athabasca partnered with the Supply Chain Managers Association for their online MBA for Supply Chain Managers. What we like about such programs, just like their other online MBA programs, is that graduates are equipped with an MBA while furthering their expertise in their professional designations.
Total program costs for the standard entry for the MBA for Supply Chain Managers comes at $38,980 for the applied project route and $43,599 for the course based route.
Accelerated entry is also available for those who qualify, with program fees amounting to $23,145 for the applied project route and $27,764 for the course based.
As it’s the only purely online university on our list, we think that the strength of Athabasca University lies in their innovative program offerings and the flexibility afforded by the online mode of delivery.
On top of that, the institution promises a mean income of around $129,500 after graduation, making them a great choice if we are to look at post-graduation opportunities.
Pros
- Flexible courses perfect for those who want to continue work while studying
- Innovative and highly specialized program offerings
- Promise of high mean income post-graduation
- Tuition reductions and shorter program duration possible through accelerated entry
Cons
- List of accepted professional designations for MBA for Health Leaders should be expanded
- Progressive Management entry requires application to GDM before fully entering MBA program
Student Testimonials
A feeling of accomplishment
“When I started the program, I didn’t have any children, and now I have two little girls who I feel really need to see their mother walk across the stage. It’s a great feeling to know that I finished what I set out to do.”––Marcia Trudeau, MBA ’16
Collaborative peers
“I found peer to peer learning experience as a great option, as you can challenge your friends and colleagues to prove your point. Or to learn from them.”––Tariq, AU Faculty of Business
3. National Alberta Institute of Technology (Cape Breton University)
| PROGRAMS | Part-time program delivery |
| TRACKS | MBA in Community Economics Development |
| ADDRESS | 11762 – 106 Street NW, Edmonton, AB, Canada T5G 2R1 |
| CONTACT NUMBER | 780-471-6248 1-877-333-6248 (Toll free) 780-471-8490 (Fax) |
| WEBSITE | https://www.nait.ca/nait/home |
| PHONE HOURS | Mon-Thurs: 8AM-12NN Fridays: 9AM-12NN |
National Alberta Institute of Technology delivers Cape Breton University’s sole MBA program in Community Economics Development. The program is offered in four different locations across the country in three different provinces.
While the MBA in CED is the only program offered, we find that it is a unique program because unlike most of the other programs listed, the CED has the public sector, third sectors, and community businesses as its focus instead of private business entities.
For this reason, we think the program deserves a spot in our list.
It’s accessible from four locations, including NAIT in Edmonton. In addition to the other locations, the program is also delivered part-time.
This part-time version is made even more flexible through the various delivery options: a mixture of day, evening, or weekends at the discretion of the student.
You may opt for scheduled delivery such as on-campus day, on-campus evening/weekend, online day, or online evening/weekend. If you prefer to work within your own schedule, you can choose online flexible delivery, or even both on-campus and virtual.
Weekend classes are delivered from 5:30PM to 9PM on Fridays, 9AM to 5PM on Saturdays, and 9AM-12:30PM on Sundays.
The residential format is only available in the main campus in Sydney, Nova Scotia spanning 24 months. What we like about the part-time weekend program offered in Edmonton is that it can be finished shorter in a 20-24 month duration.
The program’s structure is based on 13 core courses, 2 elective courses, and 1 research essay with each course costing $1,800. The elective course may be used as a basis for your specialization as well.
While this is the only MBA program offered, we think that it competes well with other programs due to its innovation and uniqueness.
Another great thing about the MBA program is that the classes are limited to 20 students, ensuring a collaborative and cohort-based learning experience that fosters connections.
Pros
- Unique program offering
- Program from Cape Breton University offered in NAIT campus in Edmonton
- Flexible delivery options
Cons
- NAIT only mainly offers undergrad programs
- Sole MBA offering may be limiting for some
- Residential format only available in Sydney, NS campus
FAQs about the best schools offering MBA programs
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